RETIRING R.S.A. OFFICERS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 May 1947, Page 4

RETIRING R.S.A. OFFICERS

ALL HAVE FINE RECORD OF The retirement of Mr. H. J. Lancaster frqip the' presidency qf - thb Leyip brahch of the N.Z-R-S.A. will be 'deeply felt by all membejrs of both world wars. Mr. Lancaster was a foqndation member, h.aying serve;d 'on ; the Levih (ekqcutive for 28 years, dhring the past five qf y/hiph }qe ppcupiqd tjjp ppgition pf president. A statement by Mr. N. M. Thomson,. the newly- elec'ted president, that though most membeys wepe aware of the backjstage wopk Wch had Qph^tantly beqn execiitfed by Mr.1 Lanca§tgr, no one Was ' realiy aware "bf ' the full amount of time and work, apart from that entailed by his " positiqn a§ ppesidgnt that Mr- Lancaster did willingly in the interests * of rptnrned sqrvjpqmcn- His service had been outstanding and he trusted MF- Lap.c.a§j:qr W.QUi.4 SgLee to stand for a ' positibn." "on "*tjje executive. , Mr. Lappast.er's aptivities jn cqiqne.ction with*'retqrh,ed men ate cohSiUerable/'he 'beirig also chairmap" of the Rehabilitation farming sub-committee in the district, and chairriiah " qf the distriqt rehabilitation committee. Ifjs ipfjuenpe has be.ep. widely felt Lp these "circles, arid during his presidepcy, j;he Levin branch of the fe.gA/- has 'gyowp conpiderably. 1 The new president, Mr. N. M. 1?hqmsop, durjpg his short assopjatioV with the branch, 'has been a k'eep and epergptic member. A Veteran* of World War II, he saW seryice" with the army in the Miaclle East and' Italy. He was 'a piembef qf ,the executive conjmitiiee last year. The retiring vice-president, Ijp. L. J. Hunter, has been associated With j;he branch for 21 years, serying as vice-president for the past twp years. The new vice-presj-dept, Mr. L. W. Allen, also a World War II veteran, saw service with the army in fhp Middlp East. He has been on the pxepufive committee fbr the past thfee years. l£ The past secretary, Mr. W. Me$dings, has been connected with the branch for 16 years, qccupying the -positioh of secretary' for the past three years. Mr. D. .Griffith, the new secretary, is' a vetera;n"of both world wars, and was secretary bf the Seatoun branch for sojpe years. He is also secretary bf' the Mpmorial Hall Campaign Committee. Other retiring -members of tjie general committee are Messrs. *F. H. Hudsop apd J. P. Coulsen. The latfer has serVed on the executiye for ' 10 years, and the former for fiye years. Another outstanding member of the past general - committe'e' "who will npt be in ofSee this year is Mr. H. B. Burdekin. He jia§ jipd ah'assoeiation of 28 yeafs with the N.Z.R.S.A. The experience he gained from his work on tjje Dpjninion pxepptive has been of very great' value *to the branch. Hfe has also made k very valuable ■ contrihution to the rehabilitation (of seryicemen, ser.ying on the ftnappe ahd h'ousing sub-commij;-tees of the "Levin Rehabilitation ppftimittee: